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Hairball Awareness Day

Cat owners, mark your calendars: April 28th is Hairball Awareness Day, which may actually be the worst holiday ever. We know, hairballs aren’t exactly something to celebrate. It’s much more fun talking about Hug Your Cat Day or Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. However, hairballs are not uncommon for our feline friends. Read on as a local Sugar Land, TX vet discusses … you guessed it … hairballs.

What Hairballs Are

As you may have noticed, kitties take their beauty regimens very seriously. Fluffy will carefully groom herself every day, making sure her fur stays soft and shiny. Sooner or later, your furry little diva will swallow some of own hair during this process. Unfortunately, your cat won’t be able to properly digest this fur, so she will expel it in the form of a hairball. (We will spare you the description of said hairballs, other than to note that they are not the best part of having a cat.)

Hairball Placement

It’s hard to discuss hairballs without mentioning the fact that cats seem to have an uncanny knack for leaving them in the exact locations where they are most likely to get stepped on. Although we remain suspicious, to this date, no studies have proven that this is deliberate.

Fighting Hairballs

There are a few things you can do to prevent—or at least reduce—Fluffy’s hairballs. First, make sure to brush your feline buddy regularly. This will help by capturing your kitty’s dead fur in a brush before she can swallow it. Proper nutrition is also important. A nourishing, healthy diet will help keep your cat’s coat shiny and healthy, and can reduce the amount of fur she sheds. Keeping your furball indoors will be beneficial as well, as cats that go outdoors tend to shed more than indoor kitties. Last but not least, ask your vet for advice on using a hairball remedy.

Trouble Signs

While it isn’t unusual for kitties to produce the occasional hairball, it’s important for pet owners to be able to tell when there is something more serious going on. If Fluffy is vomiting violently and/or excessively, is dry heaving, has lost her appetite, or seems constipated, contact your vet immediately. These can be indications of very serious medical issues!